All posts tagged GENE SIMMONS

Paul Stanley has rushed to the defense of his KISS bandmate Gene Simmons after Nikki Sixx slammed Gene over the KISS bassist’s statement that the death of Prince, allegedly from a drug overdose, was “pathetic“, according to Blabbermouth.net.

Last week, Simmons received backlash from friends, family and fans after insinuating that Prince died from a drug overdose. The MÖTLEY CRÜE and SIXX:A.M. bassist also ripped Simmons on Twitter, saying his “recent heartless and uneducated remarks about Prince‘s death shows why he’s not my hero anymore or anybody’s.” Sixx elaborated on his criticism of Simmons on his nationally syndicated radio show “Sixx Sense”. He said: “I think that [Gene] is [an] overrated, lucky guy that dresses like a clown. [He] wrote some good songs, [but] hasn’t in a long time, and loves to brag about himself.”

Last night, Stanley took to his Facebook page to address Sixx‘s comments. He wrote: “Jesus Christ, Nikki Sixx! Would you please shut up, find another way to be in the news and get off your self-inflated pedestal?

“Regardless of some things Gene Simmons has said that I may take issue with, his influence on musicians (you included) is undeniable and will continue. More importantly, his work, generosity and monetary contributions to numerous causes and charities for those less fortunate makes your ongoing rant, in the scheme of things, the unimportant but annoying squeak it truly is.

“Move on.”

Stanley‘s remarks prompted a quick response from Sixx, who wrote on Facebook: “Looks like good old Paul doesn’t like that someone called out his buddy Gene again…I will give him a standing ovation for calling out Gene himself publicly and then trying to hold my feet to the same fire, but you can’t save him. If the press wants to run with a story, they got legs and we all know they need fresh content. I have to admit calling the next KISS album ‘Move On’ would be a clever idea though…Love to the Starchild.”

He added: “We all give to charities and support our troops etc because that the right thing to do with our success.Telling a depressed kid to kill themselves etc etc etc etc is not… So don’t confuse issues.”

After Simmons‘s original comments about Prince were first published, Stanley denounced his bandmate’s “cold, clueless” statement on Twitter, saying that he was “embarrassed” by Simmons‘s remarks and offering his apologies.

Simmons last week took to Twitter to clarify his remarks about Prince. He explained: “I apologize — I have a long history of getting very angry at what drugs do to the families/friends of the addicts. I get angry at drug users because of my experience being around them coming up in the rock scene.”

Gold 104.3 radio DJ Gav conducted an interview with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons ahead of the band’s recent concert in Melbourne, Australia. They discuss everything from the spider stage set KISS brought with them, Australian accents, make-up techniques, creativity and whether Simmons has political aspirations, as reported by blabbermouth.net.

Asked if he would ever run for office, Simmons responded: “You know, in all seriousness, they don’t pay enough. Teachers, policemen, firemen… The most important jobs don’t pay very well, which is why you’re not gonna get the best talent. The best talent are in the financial sector — you know, big corporate entities, hedge fund and venture capital and so on. So… Or if you’d make me the benevolent dictator, just give me six months, I’ll do it for one dollar — ’cause I make a living — but I want total power. You can fire me — if the masses vote and so on, ‘Get rid of him’ — without cause. As long as the majority wants me gone, I’d be gone. But while I’m in office, democracy is wonderful, but it’s messy. A benevolent dictator is the most effective way of running a country. I would clean up the mess immediately; you know I would. The bad guys are going, ‘Uh oh, he knows.’ Yeah. I’d have to have lots of security, ’cause all the bad guys would wanna take me out.”

Back in 2012, Simmons expressed regret over his endorsement of President Barack Obama in 2008, telling Fox News’ “Fox and Friends”, “Hindsight is 20/20. I have some real issues with the economy and how it’s being done. America should be in business and it should be run by a businessman.”

He continued, “America is a business. If you can’t afford to do something, no matter how much bellyaching everybody does… I’m so sorry, if you can’t afford it, you shouldn’t do it. If you can afford to take care of two kids. Have two kids. Don’t have ten kids. If you can’t afford to have a $400,000 home, you can afford a $100,000 home, then do that.”

Asked by host Gretchen Carlson who his pick for president was, Simmons responded, “Strictly speaking on the economy and in my humble opinion, Mitt Romney.”

During a 2012 interview with Noisecreep, KISS frontman Paul Stanley made it clear that he didn’t share his bandmate Gene Simmons‘ views on voicing their political opinions publicly.

“I don’t know what’s more embarrassing, these musicians and actors talking about politics in interviews or the media actually giving them credibility about it,” Stanley said. “It’s absurd that a celebrity could speak out on the economy or politics with no more justification than a hit album or a movie. Not to deride Gene, but I just think he’s part of a symptom of absurdity where you’ll see somebody on television whose only criteria for being there is success in a field far away from what they’re being asked about. I really don’t know who is more ridiculous, the celebrity answering these political questions or the person asking them.”

He continued, “I’m usually not at a loss for words, but this whole celebrity political thing always gets me. It’s so embarrassing to see people with absolutely no inside knowledge of anything they are talking about. I have friends who are intimately involved with world affairs and these are the people who won’t give opinions like these celebrities do. For my friends, it’s far more complex and sensitive than that, unlike these celebrities who read some newspaper story, or watch CNN, and then spout out some opinion on something they truly don’t know anything about.”

Gene Simmons‘ house was raided on Thursday morning by police looking for evidence of child porn, although we’re told neither Gene nor anyone in his family is a suspect, according to tmz.com.

The LAPD’s Internet Crime Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at 8 AM, and we’re told cops seized computers and other evidence.

Law enforcement sources tell us, someone downloaded child porn either on one of their computers or using their Internet access. We’re told neither Simmons nor anyone in his family are considered suspects or persons of interest. Gene was away on tour when the downloads occurred.

It’s unclear who, if anyone is considered a suspect. We’re told the family is fully cooperative.

AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has addressed Gene Simmons’ claim that rock is dead, saying: “With all respect to the lad, I think he’s terribly wrong”, according to classicrock.com.

The KISS star claimed in September that the music industry and illegal downloaders had “murdered” the genre between them, leading to a string of reactions from Corey Taylor, Joe Perry, Mark Tremonti, Slash and many others.

Now Johnson tells UCR: “I don’t think anybody should have the nerve to stand here and say a certain genre of music has disappeared ‘because I say so.’

The singer argues that it’s easier today for young musicians to establish whether they have what it takes to make it.

“Kids have got a better chance to get their stuff out now with social media,” he says. “They can buy stuff to record with – we couldn’t buy a four-track recorder. We’d save up to go into a little studio in Newcastle and we’d have to physically take it to London. Now they can literally do it in their garage and put it out.

“But if you’re playing stuff and people are digging it, you’ve started your band. All you’ve got to do now is keep at it – and dodge the people who go ‘Get yourself a proper job.’ Take the path less travelled and take it on the chin.”

AC/DC release “Rock Or Bust”, their first album without mainman Malcom Young, on December 1. They’ll hit the road next year – but it’s not known whether arrested drummer Phil Rudd will remain part of the band.

According to Bizjournals.com, KISS Frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are to open a new restaurant, expanding their restaurant brand Rock & Brews to the Sunshine State, with plans to open a location in Central Florida, in Oviedo next month.

Simmons and Stanley announced on 8th October that they have inked a deal with multi-unit franchise operator R&B Florida LLC to open several Rock & Brews locations in Florida, with the first opening in Oviedo in November. Simmons and Stanley will host a grand opening event for the Ovideo location in January, according to a news release.

The 7,500-square-foot eatery at 7131 Red Bug Lake Road will offer American comfort food, a full bar, an outdoor patio and the Rock & Brews signature Great Wall of Rock. The location also will be dog-friendly and offer a play area for kids.

R&B Florida LLC is comprised of a group of local, seasoned restaurant professionals, including Regional Managing Partner Scott Paul, who was the managing partner for Outback Steakhouse and worked at three Orlando locations for more than 12 years.

The deal with R&B Florida LLC is the third of several multi-unit operating partners.

“Rock & Brews is a unique restaurant and entertainment brand that appeals to a multi-generational audience with its energized environment, exceptional food, and extensive selection of international and craft beers,” Stanley said in a prepared statement. “At the heart of the brand is our deep devotion to the communities in which we operate, and we are very excited to become an active member of the Oviedo community.”

KISS is no stranger to Central Florida, as the rock legends invaded the Amway Center at the 2013 ArenaBowl Weekend concert. Check out photos from the event here.

During that same week, Simmons also unveiled their new Anaheim, Calif.-based expansion team known as LA KISS.

While I have nothing but respect for Gene, he couldn’t be further off the mark. Yes, the rock ‘n’ roll “business model” that helped Kiss (and my band for that matter) achieve fame and fortune is most certainly long dead and buried, but rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well and thriving on social media, in the streets, and in clubs and concert halls all over the world. And the bands playing it are more genuine and heartfelt than ever because they are in it for one reason: the love of rock ‘n’ roll.

Spend some time seeing and listening to these incredible young bands and their rabid fans and you will know that rock ‘n’ roll couldn’t be more alive. Yes, it’s not the same as it was for the first 50 years of rock’s existence, but the fire definitely still burns.

And it wasn’t some 15 year old kid in Saint Paul, Minnesota (to paraphrase Mr. Simmons) who killed the rock ‘n’ roll goose that laid the platinum egg…it was greedy, big city, record company moguls who made their own velvet noose to hang themselves with. It was they who took advantage of the consumer (and the artist for that matter) and drove them to use an alternative source of music presented to them.

For example, take the bill of goods the record industry sold the mainstream public when introducing the CD format. “We have to charge more for it, because it’s a new technology and there’s a cost to setting up the infrastructure to produce them.” The consumer believed them–it made sense–so they paid a $18.98 list price for a product they had been paying $7.99 list for previously. After all “you can’t break a CD with a hammer!” (Remember that?)

But when the infrastructure was in place and paid for in full, and the cost of producing a CD dropped to less than a dollar, did the record companies roll back the list price in kind? Not on your life. They weren’t about to do the right thing and cut their increased revenue stream. Those fat cats were enjoying their ill-gotten gains way too much.

So when the general public finally realized they were being had, and the opportunity arose for them to stick it to the man, what did they do? The same thing their Woodstock Nation, baby boomer parents had done when they had their chance…they stuck it and they stuck it good. Does anyone remember Abbey Hoffman’s “Steal this Book”, the massive selling, early 70’s hippy guide “focused on ways to fight the government, and against corporations in any way possible.” Multiply that by a googolplex.

Is it hard to make it rock ‘n’ roll? You bet. Always was, always will be. Will rockers make as much money as they did “back in the day”? Probably not. But that won’t stop them, and they’ll be motivated by a much more genuine love of the art, and great rock will continue to be produced, played and embraced by rock fans.

So in conclusion: Record company executives killed the old rock ‘n’ roll business model…and Rock ‘n’ Roll Ain’t Dead!